Would this kind of a move be possible on Kindle Fires at all? I thought they had some hardware reason for not being on the store, like the SoC they used didn't comply with Google's requirements or something like that.

On a tangentially related note - what's the cheapest, barebones option for getting a Play-compatible device? I just want access to the store to sideload some games and apps on my Fire HD.

Would this kind of a move be possible on Kindle Fires at all? I thought they had some hardware reason for not being on the store, like the SoC they used didn't comply with Google's requirements or something like that.

On a tangentially related note - what's the cheapest, barebones option for getting a Play-compatible device? I just want access to the store to sideload some games and apps on my Fire HD.

Amazon probably doesn't want Google's store on their device - they are pushing their store and their ecosystem with it.

Although the last time an article came out about this, some posted that their UI probably wouldn't meet their guidelines.

Glad to see the Nook HD/HD+ join the ranks of full featured android tablets... with hi-res screens and sd slots they certainly bring some competition to the tablet market. The HD+ seems an especially good deal considering the price ($269) and expandable memory capability in a 9" tablet.

I've downloaded the update on my PC. Will update my Nook HD today after I back it up.Pretty psyched to get the Play store - the HD is a much better device than the Galaxy Tab 2 7" I picked up pretty much to get access to the Play Store.

I'm a touch ambivalent about the update, since the last two updates wiped the on-board content forcing me (and a lot of users) to re-download everything.

Still, access to updated versions of apps I have on the HD alone will be sweet.

Been running CyanogenMod on my Nook Tablet for a long time now... I think I left the Nook stock for only like a month because I really just wanted an Android tablet, and at the time it was cheaper than one.

Nook's UI is still kinda nice for a change of pace, but the consistency of stock Android is nicer.

I'd love for this to happen on my Nook Color, it's not like it's an old device!

Would be nice, yeah, but from what I've seen of Android tablets with similar specs, 4.0 runs really slow, so it might make it worse. I'd settle for them fixing whatever broke Words With Friends on my Nook Color.

I love my Nook e-reader and really wished the whole Nook line had more success. If they would've done this a year or so ago, I definitely would've gotten a Nook tablet instead of a Fire for my first 7" tab. In any case, more competition is always good.

On a tangentially related note - what's the cheapest, barebones option for getting a Play-compatible device? I just want access to the store to sideload some games and apps on my Fire HD.

I don't know if the Fire HD is any different, but at least on the original Fire, you should already be able to sideload non-Amazon approved apps--just copy in the APKs and install manually. In fact, the whole concept of sideloading means you don't need Google Play, at least on that particular device. Perhaps I am misunderstanding your use of the term?

I don't know if the Fire HD is any different, but at least on the original Fire, you should already be able to sideload non-Amazon approved apps--just copy in the APKs and install manually. In fact, the whole concept of sideloading means you don't need Google Play, at least on that particular device. Perhaps I am misunderstanding your use of the term?

No, I know that - I just want access to the store itself since it's a (relatively) trustworthy place to get the APKs in the first place. You can't access the Play store without a supported Android device linked to your account.

I've downloaded the update on my PC. Will update my Nook HD today after I back it up.Pretty psyched to get the Play store - the HD is a much better device than the Galaxy Tab 2 7" I picked up pretty much to get access to the Play Store.

I haven't been able to get the update to install today. It sucks up the file but never installs or reboots it and a manual reboot doesn't get it installed either.

It may be because I have the hybrid Cyanogen Mod install running, but that *shouldn't* affect the stock Nook side.

Since stock Nook is much more stable than the CM versions on this device, I really hope I manage to get it to work. I might do a hard wipe and retry.

I'd love for this to happen on my Nook Color, it's not like it's an old device!

Would be nice, yeah, but from what I've seen of Android tablets with similar specs, 4.0 runs really slow, so it might make it worse. I'd settle for them fixing whatever broke Words With Friends on my Nook Color.

I'm running 4.0 (or 4.1) on my Nook Color and it feels just as slow as it used to feel when I was running 2.3.

It's never going to win any speed competition, but it is more than usable.

I'd love for this to happen on my Nook Color, it's not like it's an old device!

Would be nice, yeah, but from what I've seen of Android tablets with similar specs, 4.0 runs really slow, so it might make it worse. I'd settle for them fixing whatever broke Words With Friends on my Nook Color.

Surprisingly, CM10 is smooth as silk on my Nook Color. I think it runs better than CM7 ever did. The only downside I've noticed is that battery life is worse than stock Nook or CM7. Of course, as the previous poster said, it's not going to win any speed awards no matter what OS it's running.

I've downloaded the update on my PC. Will update my Nook HD today after I back it up.Pretty psyched to get the Play store - the HD is a much better device than the Galaxy Tab 2 7" I picked up pretty much to get access to the Play Store.

I haven't been able to get the update to install today. It sucks up the file but never installs or reboots it and a manual reboot doesn't get it installed either.

It may be because I have the hybrid Cyanogen Mod install running, but that *shouldn't* affect the stock Nook side.

Since stock Nook is much more stable than the CM versions on this device, I really hope I manage to get it to work. I might do a hard wipe and retry.

I don't know if the Fire HD is any different, but at least on the original Fire, you should already be able to sideload non-Amazon approved apps--just copy in the APKs and install manually. In fact, the whole concept of sideloading means you don't need Google Play, at least on that particular device. Perhaps I am misunderstanding your use of the term?

No, I know that - I just want access to the store itself since it's a (relatively) trustworthy place to get the APKs in the first place. You can't access the Play store without a supported Android device linked to your account.

Ah, I see what you're asking for. You need a (legit) source for all those APKs in the first place. I'm assuming you don't have an Android phone? TBH, I never even considered this hurdle since I have far too many non-forked Android devices to begin with and can d/l to any of them through Play.

For the hell of it, I looked up the cheapest Android tablet on Amazon and found this:

I'd love for this to happen on my Nook Color, it's not like it's an old device!

That's been possible on the Nook Color for ages! Take a look at the XDA forums for the Color...

You do know that 99.7% of the Nook userbase doesn't understand what a XDA forum is, right?

yes, but I would assume that the portion of the Nook userbase that is commenting on here at Ars is either in that 0.3% that knows XDA already, or is technically savvy enough to type "nook color xda forum" in Google... Once you get that far, rooting a Nook Color and installing a custom ROM is pretty trivial...

No, I know that - I just want access to the store itself since it's a (relatively) trustworthy place to get the APKs in the first place. You can't access the Play store without a supported Android device linked to your account.

Do you have any friends/family with Android devices? Maybe you can ask if you can add and then remove your account to one of their devices. I'm not sure if Google takes that device out of your list when removing the account, but I know I have several old devices still listed, but that may be because they were reset or reflashed without removing the account first.

No, I know that - I just want access to the store itself since it's a (relatively) trustworthy place to get the APKs in the first place. You can't access the Play store without a supported Android device linked to your account.

Do you have any friends/family with Android devices? Maybe you can ask if you can add and then remove your account to one of their devices. I'm not sure if Google takes that device out of your list when removing the account, but I know I have several old devices still listed, but that may be because they were reset or reflashed without removing the account first.

Unfortunately not, my family all either has iDevices or dumbphones. ...There's an OS-fanboy joke in there, but it's pretty low-hanging fruit.

I think I'll probably just end up buying an older Android phone used from someone. They generally work without the SIM card, right? Obviously I wouldn't be able to make calls or use data networks but I already have a phone for that.

<edited out because the posts in question got sucked into a black hole of moderation>

Quit reposting your inane drivel. You said this already. You also said to buy iPad minis and N7's twice already as well. We get it - you are strongly opinionated about tablets for fuck-knows-why. Now say something new or GTFO.

In somewhat related news in the UK B&N have this week dropped the price of the previously strugging Nook Simple Touch to £29 (~$45) and in the process they appear to have the sweet spot for non-kindle ereaders as they seem to have been selling out as fast as retailers have been able to get them in.